PUC: Many poles downed by winds were overloaded

PASADENA, Calif. 
A preliminary probe found that up to a third of Southern California Edison power poles that were downed by a fierce windstorm last year were overloaded, state regulators said Thursday.

The California Public Utilities Commission examined 60 poles from the 211 Edison poles that were toppled or had to be replaced after a fierce windstorm Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, the Pasadena Star-News reported (
http://bit.ly/xOPqFq
). Pole overloading, which is a violation of state law, has to do with the strength of the pole versus the load of equipment on the pole, PUC officials said.

"Our preliminary investigation suggests to us that at least one-third of these damaged poles were indeed overloaded," said Denise Tyrell, a Southern California representative of the commission.

Tyrell said pole overloading is an issue throughout Southern California and may be an issue in Northern California as well. "And we need to address that immediately," Tyrell added.

More than 440,000 Edison customers lost power, some for as long as a week, during the Nov. 30 storm that spawned wind gusts approaching 100 mph in some areas. Pasadena was one of the hardest-hit areas.

Southern California Edison President Ron Litzinger said the utility is cooperating with the commission in its investigation and is conducting its own investigation as well.

The PUC is aiming to release a draft report on its investigation of Edison's windstorm response by March. The commission is also examining communications with the government and the public as well as restoration times.